There might be no more polarizing fighter in boxing today than WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
The 31-year-old Alabamian has four successful title defenses since winning the title from Bermane Stiverne in January 2015, but has also drawn criticism for his lack of activity and seemingly avoiding tough fights.
While Wilder’s athleticism might be unrivaled and his style completely unorthodox, he still boasts an undefeated record and faces arguably his toughest task in the 27-0-0 Luis Ortiz on Nov. 4.
Deontay Wilder career record
Deontay Wilder is 38-0-0 with 37 knockouts.
He captured the WBC heavyweight title in 2015 with a dominating win over Bermane Stiverne.
Deontay Wilder past four fights
Wilder vs. Washington
Fight date: Feb. 2, 2017
Result: Wilder wins via fifth round TKO
Summary: Gerald Washington stepped into the bout with Wilder after Wilder’s original opponent, Andrzej Wawrzyk, tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
He didn’t stand much of a shot against Wilder, as the WBC heavyweight champ’s relentless offense nailed Washington with shot after shot.
The fight was stopped in the fifth after an onslaught of Wilder power shots.
Wilder vs. Arreola
Fight date: July 16, 2016
Result: Arreola retires following the seventh round
Summary: Wilder — true to his last name — was unbridled in the ring, pounding Arreola’s face into ground beef. It forced Arreola to quit on his stool.
Wilder vs. Szpilka
Fight date: Jan. 16, 2016
Result: Wilder wins via ninth-round knockout
Summary: Leading up the fight, Artur Szpilka didn’t take any of Wilder’s jawing seriously, matching him in trash talk word for word.
Szpilka’s confidence actually was amounting to a relatively even fight, until Wilder landed a massive right hand that sent Spzilka crumbling to the mat in the ninth round.
Wilder vs. Duhaupas
Fight date: Jan. 26, 2015
Result: Wilder wins via 11th-round TKO
Summary: In his second title defense since winning the WBC heavyweight title, Wilder faced the 32-2-0 Johann Duhaupas.
